NTSB: Plane lost power before crash landing in Tupelo

TUPELO, Miss. (AP) — Federal investigators say a plane that crash landed at the Tupelo Regional Airport last month lost power while approaching the runway.

WTVA-TV in Tupelo reports that a preliminary accident report by the National Transportation Safety Board says the Beechcraft A36 was on a return flight from Birmingham, Ala., when the engine lost power around 1:10 p.m. July 20 at an attitude of about 600 feet.

The plane touched down in the pasture of the Tupelo Buffalo Park, bounced into the air and crossed a street before coming to a stop on airport property just short of the runway.

The pilot, Fred Newman Jr. of Columbus, suffered minor injuries.

The report says first responders say there was fuel in the plane at the time of the crash.